Distillation column having removable tray assembly

ABSTRACT

A distillation column and tray assembly is disclosed herein. The distillation column includes a removable inner tray assembly with adjustable downcomer tubes. The removable tray assembly enables the user to selectively change distillation plates when so removed. When removed, a distiller or brewer may adjust the downcomer tubes to change the fluid level on the distillation plates, or bypass certain distillation plates completely. Certain embodiments of the invention include a feature of an O-ring recessed around a perimeter of the plates permitting a tight seal and reducing manufacturing costs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/923,983 filed Jan. 6, 2014 which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to brewing equipment and more particularly todistillation columns tray assemblies.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

In a conventional method of distillation and dehydration of ethanol froma beer mash, which contains ethanol, water, and solids, the mash ispreheated and fed into a distillation column. In the distillationcolumn, the mash is concentrated by evaporation, and the solids areremoved as a bottom product together with water. A portion of the bottomproduct is usually returned to the distillation column after heating.

In some systems a first distillate in the form of a vapor, which stillcontains water, ethanol, and fusel oils, is fed, possibly via acollecting and mixing tank, into a second distillation column, which isdesigned as a rectifying column. A more extensive separation is carriedout in this rectifying column, and the fusel oils are removed in asidestream. Of the water separated as bottom product in the seconddistillation column, a small fraction is returned to the rectifyingcolumn after heating, and the remainder is removed, so that it iseliminated from the production process. The distillate of the seconddistillation column, which, as before, contains water and ethanol, canbe partly returned to the first and second distillation columns,possibly via the aforementioned collecting tank, to increase ethanolpurity or treat the fluids in accordance with a recipe.

Known column innards including downcomber plates and tubes are weldedstatic prohibiting plate and tube interchanges or removal. It has becomeevident that replacing and changing downcomer tubes and/or plates canadvantageously affect run characteristics and enable a brewer ordistiller flexibility when making products and designing a product line.

Further, known distillation columns often do not have a tight sealbetween downcomber plates and side walls of the distillation column.Known sealing methods try to weld the plate to the inner wall of thecolumn body to create a tight seal. These welds are often porous orincomplete as the difficulty in welding in small confines often provestoo challenging. Welding is further problematic as the diametric size ofdistillation columns is reduced. Therefore it would be advantageous tomake an internal seal without the use of welding.

SUMMARY

A distillation column and tray assembly is disclosed herein.

The overall system includes a removable inner distillation tray assemblywith adjustable downcomer tubes. The removable tray assembly enables theuser to remove the tray assembly and selectively change plates. Whenremoved a distiller or brewer may adjust the downcomer tubes to changethe fluid level on the plates, or bypass certain plates completely.

Certain embodiments of the invention include a feature of an O-ringrecessed around a perimeter of the plates permitting a seal between theplates and an interior wall of a distillation column.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not toidentify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a distillation system, in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a distillation column and a removable trayassembly, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a side view of an embodiment of the removable tray assemblyhaving four tray module sections, in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3B is a side view of an embodiment of the removable tray assemblyhaving three tray module sections, in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable trayassembly shown in FIG. 3A, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of a connecting rod, in accordance with thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5B is an exploded view of a further embodiment of a connecting rod,in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6A shows an assembled downcomer tube, in accordance with thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6B is an exploded view of an embodiment of the downcomer tube shownin FIG. 6A, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6C is an exploded view of another embodiment of the downcomer tube,in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows an interchangeable distillation plate, in accordance withthe present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a downcomer tube bent at substantially 180-degrees, inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional side view of an interchangeabledistillation plate taken along line A-A of FIG. 10, in accordance withthe present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a side view of an interchangeable distillation plate, inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the interchangeable plate, inaccordance with the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of a distillation column having aremovable tray assembly inserted, in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals representlike parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference tovarious embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention, which islimited only by the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally,any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to belimiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments forthe claimed invention.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, thefollowing terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and“the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on.” As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Thus, any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Furthermore, as used herein,numerical ordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., such asfirst, second, and third components, simply denote different singles ofa plurality unless specifically defined by language in the appendedclaims.

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example and withoutlimitation, top, bottom, left, right, upper, lower, front, back, andderivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown inthe drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expresslyrecited therein.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the depictions are for thepurpose of illustrating certain exemplary embodiments only and not forthe purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary distillationsystem 10 having various distillation and brewing components. Theexemplary distillation system 10 shown includes a distillation vessel 30connected to an expansion chamber having a pot still head 20.Dephlegmators 17 and 24 are connected to various distillation columns12, 14, 16, and 22 above a mixing tank 40. A condenser 18 is connectedto a parrot, i.e., recovery spout. Various integration piping is shown.The distillation system 10 is shown as exemplary to provide context forparticular aspects and functions of the various distillation and brewingcomponents. As the disclosure herein can be applied to variousdistillation systems and distillation equipment arrangements it istherefore not intended to be limited thereby.

FIG. 2 shows the distillation column 12 and the removable tray assembly53. The distillation column 12 may include one or more sight ports 52for viewing interior portions of the column 12 and assembly 53, wheninserted. The distillation tray assembly 53 includes a plurality oftrays, i.e., plates 58, a plurality of downcomer tube assemblies 54, anda plurality of connecting rods 56. As FIG. 2 shows, the removable trayassembly 53 may be removed from the distillation column 12 enablingadjustment, exchange, or cleaning of various components of the assembly53. For example, a distiller or brewer may adjust downcomer tubes 54 tochange the fluid level on one or more of a plurality of plates 58, orbypass certain, desired plates all together.

In one embodiment, the distillation column 12 includes a top flange 50and a bottom flange 51. The flanges 50 and 51 may be configured forconnection to various distillation components e.g., a condenser or adephlegmator, via various mechanical connections, e.g., bolts, clampsand/or weld joints. In various embodiments, thermoports may be includedon a distillation column housing similar to the plurality of sight ports52. The distillation column 12 is preferably formed to include a hollowcylindrical center portion for receiving the tray assembly 53. The trayassembly 53 may then be removed or inserted selectively.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of the removable tray assembly 53 havingcomponents added or removed from the assembly 53 to vary an amount oflevels. As FIG. 3A shows, one configuration of the assembly 53 caninclude four tray module sections: A, B, C, and D. As FIG. 3B shows, oneconfiguration of the assembly 53 can include three tray module sections:B, C, and D. It is contemplated that one may add or subtract varioustray module sections so that one or more tray module sections may beincluded for a particular, desired implementation. For example, one mayremove an additional plate 58, connecting rod 56 and downcomer tube 54from the assembly shown in FIG. 3B to implement an assembly having onlytwo tray module sections.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of the removable tray assembly 53 shown inFIG. 3A. As FIG. 4 shows, the tray assembly 53 includes a connecting rod56 placed between each plate 58.

FIGS. 5A and 5B shows exploded views of embodiments of a connecting rod56. Connecting rods 56 are disassembled, generally, to remove plates tomodify an amount of tray module sections of the assembly 53. Theconnecting rods include a main rod 72, a top cap 70 and a bottom cap 74.In use, a first plate is pressed against a top end of the main rod 72and the top cap 70 and a second plate is pressed against a bottom end ofthe main rod 72 and the bottom cap 74 as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4.In one embodiment, the top cap 70 is a male threaded into the main rod72, while the main rod 72 is threaded into the bottom cap 74. In variousembodiments, the top end of the top cap 70 is removeable so thatsuccessive bottom caps 74 may be threaded into the top caps 70 whenarranged in a multi-moduled tray assembly 53 such as shown in FIGS. 3A,3B, and 4. In one embodiment, the top of cap 70 is removable so thatsuccessive rods 72 may be threaded into one another.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the connecting rod 56 may include various fulcrumsurface portions 71, 79, 81, and 86 for engagement to a lever-basedmechanical tool, e.g., a wrench. In one embodiment, the fulcrum surfaceportions 71, 79, 81, and 86 are radially symmetrical. The connecting rod56 preferably include conical-shaped portions 73, 78, 83, 84 forengagement to a surface of the plates 58. The conical-shaped portionsenable wider, more stable engagement to surfaces of the plates 58. Asshown in FIG. 5B, the top cap 70 includes a threaded portion 75configured for engagement to a threaded portion 77. The main rod 72includes a male threaded portion 85 configured for threaded engagementto a threaded portion 82 of the bottom cap 74. A male threaded portion88 of the bottom cap 74 may be configured for threaded engagement to atop cap in one embodiment of a multi-moduled tray assembly 53 such asshown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4. The first and final plates of the assembly53 are secured via a top and bottom nut and bolt, in one embodiment,shown as element 69 in FIG. 5A and element 71 in FIG. 5B.

FIG. 6A shows an assembled downcomer tube 54 and FIG. 6B shows anexploded view of that downcomer embodiment 54. FIG. 6C is an explodedview of another embodiment of the downcomer tube 54. The downcomer tubes54 can be adjusted to set a desired head pressure (liquid level on theplate).

The downcomer tubes 54 have a height-adjustable cup 94 on the bottomthat goes up and down, and the tubes have a top valve 90 at the top thatadjusts up and down. When reducing an amount of modules in amulti-moduled tray assembly 53 embodiment such as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B,and 4, the downcomer tubes 54 are removed if a plate 58 is removed and acorresponding connecting rods 56 are removed.

The valve 90 threads in or out of the top of a main tube 92 whichaffects a fluid level on a surface of the plate 58 higher or lower. Thevalve 90 is configured to receive fluid from a plate traveling down tothe next plate. To increase fluid level on the plate 58, one wouldunscrew the valve 90 until it reached a desired height. Similarly, toreduce the fluid level on the plate 58 you would tighten the valve 90 infurther to decrease a valve height. The valve 90 threads into thedowncomer tube assembly 54 so the fluid level on the plate 58 can beadjusted as the valve 90 is threaded in further, or unthreaded toincrease the height.

A height-adjustable cup 94 is threaded on the main tube 92 via threads95 and 96. In various modes of operation, the height-adjustable cup 94at the bottom of the downcomer tube 54 can be submerged in liquid on apreceding plate. It is contemplated that a distiller or brewer mayadjust the cup 94 up or down to ensure full or desired submersion. Invarious embodiments, the cup 94 on the bottom of the downcomer tube 54can thread up or down to adjust the space between bottom edge of the cup94 and a top surface of the plate 58.

The downcomer tubes 54 include threaded rings 91 or nuts that may beused to abut a top surface and a bottom surface of the plates 58,respectively. For example, a first ring 91 may be positioned above aplate while a second ring is positioned below the plate. In this way,the rings 91 hold the plate 58 in place, while the valve 90 is free toindependently laterally move above the plate 58 via threading from themain tube 92. The exemplary downcomer tubes 54 may mechanically mount inthe off-center hole on the plate 58 with, for example, a nut on top andbottom and the connecting rods 56 join the assembly 53 together via thecenter hole 102.

Referring to FIG. 6C, in one embodiment directed to a bubble capconfiguration, the cup 94 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is exchanged for aninner adjustable downcomer tube 110, an adjustable downcomer gate 114, adowncomer seal 116, and a seal retention nut 118. In one embodiment,FIGS. 6A and 6B may be used in a sieve tray application.

In a sieve tray configuration, vapor rises vertically through thedistillate sitting on the plates 58 which is where purification occurs(more trays or “modules” typically results in greater purity). In abubble cap tray configuration, vapor is pushed through the bubble capplates 58 and then downward and out the combs on a bubble cap plate 58.This process pushes the vapor horizontally across the plate 58 toincrease interaction with distillate sitting on the plate 58, enhancingpurity.

In one exemplary operation, a bottom end of the downcomer tube 54 issubmerged creating a seal but allowing distillate from above to flowdownward through the downcomer tube 54. If there was no seal, the vaporwould take the path of least resistance, chasing up the downcomer tube54 and bypassing the holes in the tray or plate 58. In one exemplarysieve configuration, there is no seal, gate, or inner tube needed at abottom of the downcomer tube 54, just an adjustable cup 94 to ensuresubmersion. In a bubble cap configuration, the vapor is travelinghorizontally across the plate 58 which would blow the seal from beneaththe cup 94 so we had to devise a way to ensure that seal. Hence, in abubble cap configuration it is preferable to utilize the downcomer tube54 embodied in FIG. 6C, rather than shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

When distilling using the downcomer tube shown in FIG. 6C in a bubblecap configuration, the downcomer seal 116 is affixed to the plate 58 byengaging the seal retention nut 118. The downcomer seal 116 has a flushflange that is level with a top plate surface when inserted through aplate opening such as opening 100 shown in FIG. 7. The adjustabledowncomer gate 114 can then be raised or lowered depending on the heightof the combs on the bubble cap plates 58 that are used. For example, inone embodiment, upper tray plates 58 of the assembly 53 have highercombs and lower tray plates have shorter combs.

The inner adjustable downcomer tube 110 is configured to selectivelythread up and down inside the downcomer 54, and inside the main tube 92.It is adjustable as desired to ensure submersion and will also affectliquid left sitting in the downcomer 54 during use which also helps sealin the event of a seal blowout.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 9A, 9B, and 10, illustrating embodiments of aninterchangeable plate 58. There are different style plates withdifferent characteristics, for example, a sieve tray plate or a bubblecap type-tray plate as referred to above. As described above, thedowncomer tubes 54 connect to the plates 58 via a hole or opening 100positioned toward an outer perimeter of the plates 58. O-rings 104 areplaced around the perimeter of the plates 58. In one embodiment, theO-rings 104 are positioned within a recess 107 of the plates 58 as shownin exemplary FIG. 9B. The recess 107 is preferably in a middle portionof a circumference of the plate edge. The recessed O-ring permits atight seal to an interior surface, i.e., interior side wall, of thedistillation column 12, inhibiting or prohibiting gaseous or liquidcommunication of fluids around the plates 58. In various embodiments,the plates 58 include a plurality of apertures and are foraminous.

FIG. 11 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the distillation column12 and assembly 53, illustrating positioning of the assembly 53 withinthe column 12. In use, the entire tray assembly 53 is positioned withinthe column 12 preferably using releasable retention clamps 120 and 121placed toward a top end and a bottom end of the column 12. The clamps120 and 121 prevent the assembly 53 from moving laterally within thecolumn 12.

In use, the entire tray assembly 53 could be removed from the column 12(by sliding the tray assembly out the bottom side of the column) and atthat point the tray assembly can be adjusted (by way of the downcomertubes) or plates changed/removed. The downcomer tubes 54 set the liquidlevel present on each plate when running.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments andmodifications thereto. Further modifications and alterations may occurto others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore,it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particularembodiment(s) disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that thedisclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A distillation column comprising: aplurality of distillation trays, each having a recessed O-ring along acircumferential edge; one or more connecting rods configured to engageand secure the plurality of distillation trays; a plurality of downcomerassemblies, each engaged to at least one of the plurality ofdistillation trays; wherein at least one of the plurality of downcomerassemblies is laterally adjustable and comprises: a first and secondring configured to threadly engage a downcomer tube and secure onedistillation tray of the plurality of distillation trays; an adjustablevalve; a hollow tube configured to mechanically and fluidly connect tothe adjustable valve; and a cup configured to mechanically and fluidlyconnect to the hollow tube.
 2. The distillation column of claim 1,wherein the connecting rods are removably attached to a firstdistillation tray and a second distillation tray of the plurality ofdistillation trays, and wherein the connecting rods comprise a pluralityof fulcrum surface portions.
 3. The distillation column of claim 1,wherein the recessed O-ring is configured to sealingly engage aninterior wall of the distillation column.
 4. The distillation column ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of distillation trays, the one or moreconnecting rods and the plurality of downcomer assemblies comprise aremovable tray assembly.
 5. The distillation column of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of distillation trays are sieve-type distillation trays.6. The distillation column of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofdistillation trays are bubble cap-type distillation trays.
 7. Thedistillation column of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality ofdowncomer assemblies is bent at substantially 180-degrees.
 8. Adistillation column having a removable distillation tray assemblycomprising: a plurality of distillation trays, each having a recessedO-ring along a circumferential edge, wherein the O-ring is recessedalong a channel formed of the circumferential edge of each of theplurality of distillation trays; one or more connecting rods configuredto selectively engage and secure the plurality of distillation trays,wherein the connecting rods each comprise a plurality of radiallysymmetrical fulcrum surface portions; a plurality of laterallyadjustable downcomer assemblies, wherein one of the plurality oflaterally adjustable downcomer assemblies is bent at substantially180-degrees; a first and second releasable retention clamp for laterallysecuring the removable distillation tray assembly within thedistillation column; a top flange and a bottom flange configured toselectively attached to a second distillation column; wherein at leastone of the plurality of downcomer assemblies comprises: a first andsecond ring configured to threadly engage a downcomer tube and secureone distillation tray of the plurality of distillation trays; anadjustable valve; a hollow tube configured to mechanically and fluidlyconnect to the adjustable valve; and a cup configured to mechanicallyand fluidly connect to the hollow tube.
 9. A distillation column havinga removable distillation tray assembly comprising: a plurality ofdistillation trays, each having a recessed O-ring along acircumferential edge, wherein the O-ring is recessed along a channelformed of the circumferential edge of each of the plurality ofdistillation trays; one or more connecting rods configured toselectively engage and secure the plurality of distillation trays,wherein the connecting rods each comprise a plurality of radiallysymmetrical fulcrum surface portions; a plurality of laterallyadjustable downcomer assemblies, wherein one of the plurality oflaterally adjustable downcomer assemblies is bent at substantially180-degrees; a first and second releasable retention clamp for laterallysecuring the removable distillation tray assembly within thedistillation column; a top flange and a bottom flange configured toselectively attached to a second distillation column; wherein at leastone of the plurality of downcomer assemblies comprises: a first andsecond ring configured to threadly engage a downcomer tube and secureone distillation tray of the plurality of distillation trays; anadjustable valve; a hollow tube configured to mechanically and fluidlyconnect to the adjustable valve; an inner adjustable downcomer tubehaving threads and configured for engagement to inner walls of thehollow tube; an adjustable downcomer gate having interior threads andconfigured for engagement to an exterior wall of the hollow tube; adowncomer seal having a flange for engagement to a surface of one of theplurality of distillation trays; and a seal retention nut having threadsfor engagement to the downcomer seal.